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Digitized bythe Internet Archive 
in 2011 with funding from 
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http://www.archive.org/details/tincantoyshowtomOOwill 




Expensive materials are not necessary. 



TIN CAN TOYS 

AND 

HOW TO MAKE THEM 



BY 
CARRIE WILLIAMS 



ST. LOUIS, MO. 
1916 






^ 



Copyright 1916, by 
Carrie Williams 




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AY 22 i9!6 
§)C!,A433100 



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INTRODUCTION 



A busy child is a happy child. When boys and girls are tired of 
play and you suggest that they make something, remember that ex- 
pensive materials and an elaborate equipment are not necessary. If 
you will show them how to use what they have or what they can easily 
obtain, they will not only derive much pleasure, but will also learn 
a lesson in economy that they will not forget, a lesson they can apply 
to real work as well as play work. 

Tell them to bring some discarded tin cans, sticks, and boxes, a 
hammer, a knife, and a few nails. How eagerly they work when you 
answer their question, "What can we make out of these?" Encour- 
age them to try experiments of their own, thus developing their in- 
genuity. They appreciate your confidence in their judgment and often 
look up with a smile and say, "We have to think to make these 
things." 

As cans and boxes vary in size, it is well to let each child work 
out the proportions that are best for his own tin. The finished work 
will show an interesting individuality. 



Ill 




Assorted Materials 



IV CONTENTS 



MADE OF CYLINDERS OF TIN CANS 

PAGE 

Bench 50 

Brush 28 

Chair 50 

Cooky Cutters - 32 

Sand Shovel, No. 1 2 

Sled 6 

MADE OF ENDS OF TIN CANS 

Buzzer 8 

Picture Frame 14 

Plate, No. 1 , 12 

Round Table - 12 

Top 10 

MADE OF TIN CAN CYLINDERS AND ENDS 

Biscuit Cutter 32 

Strainer 32 

MADE OF PUSH-IN COVERS OF TIN CANS 

Pin Tray 16 

Plates, Nos. 2 and 3 12 



CONTENTS 



V 





VI CONTENTS 



MADE OF TIN BOXES 

PAGE 

Bed 52 

Bread or Cake Box 34 

Dust-Pan 26 

Knife and Fork Tray 36 

Panorama 54 

Scoop 34 

MADE OF TIN BOX COVERS 

Blackboard 42 

Calendar 44 

Checker Game 46 

Grater 34 

Sand Shovel, No. 2 2 

Table 52 

MADE OF TIN CANS AND TIN BOXES 

Bungalow 48 

Camp 4 

Wagon 40 

Wheelbarrow 38 



CONTENTS 



VII 




m 





5*5c^'^i 




VIII CONTENTS 



MADE OF ROUND TINS WITH COVERS 

PAGE 

Bank 18 

Kaleidoscope 22 

Salt-Cellar 32 

Soap Shaker 20 



General Directions X 

Tools XI 



i 



CONTENTS 



IX 




X 



GENERAL DIRECTIONS 




Open some cans at one end and some at the other. 




"■/■ t\.<\ r'*"' ■-■'"*". 
Remove the end of a tin can by melting the solder. 



TOOLS 



XI 




Hammer 


Raffia Needle 


Knife 


Ruler 


Paint Brushes 


Scissors 


Pencil 


Sharp Round Nails 



Glass Cutter (for Kaleidoscope) 




If you save the good you find, 
Odds and ends of every kind, 
You can make some tin can toys 
Just like these, little girls and boys. 



TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



What can these small tin shovels do? 
Make a sand mountain and tunnel it through, 
Dig a deep valley, build bridges, too, 
And castles with beautiful gardens for you. 



SAND SHOVEL, NO. 1 

Materials:— Cylinder of tin can, stick, nails. 
Directions:— Flatten the cylinder by pounding it with a hammer. 
Cut the stick for the handle and nail it to the tin. 

SAND SHOVEL, NO. 2 

Materials:— Tin box cover, stick, nails. 

Directions:— Fold the cover in half. Insert the end of the handle 
and nail it in place. 



SAND SHOVELS 





TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



The tiny toy troops will soon guard the camp. 

They are marching, are marching this way, 
For, hark! we now hear the brave tramp, tramp, tramp 

Of their stanch little scout master, Ray. 



CAMP 

Materials:— Two tin boxes, tin can cylinder with one end attached, 
wire, twigs. 

Directions:— To make the tent, stand the boxes on end, fitting the 
upper ends together. For the kettle, round out the bottom of the can 
by placing it over a broomstick and pounding the edge with a hammer. 
Make two holes in the can, on opposite sides and near the top. Insert 
the ends of the wire handle. Make the chain and hooks of small pieces 
of wire. Cut twigs for the kettle support and fire logs. 



CAMP 





6 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Let us whittle a board for the top of a sled 
And nail on tin runners, then paint it bright red. 
What fun we shall have when the cold winds blow 
And the hill is covered with ice and snow! 



SLED 

Materials:— Two strips of tin, board, nails, paint. 



SLED 




8 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Though this hums, hums, hums 

Like a busy bee, 
It is tin and string 

And can't sting me. 



BUZZER 

Materials:— End of tin can, string. 

Directions:— Flatten the tin by pounding down the edge. Make 
two holes in the tin, the same distance from and on opposite sides of 
the center. Be sure that the edges of the holes are smooth. Thread 
the string through one hole and back through the other. Tie the ends 
of the string together. The buzzer will hum louder if additional holes 
are made in the tin. 



BUZZER 



9 




10 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



A sharpened stick and a piece of tin 
Will make a top any boy can spin. 



TOP 

Materials:— End of tin can, round stick. 

Directions:— With a hammer and nail make a hole through the 
center of the tin. Insert the pointed end of the stick. 



TOP 



11 




12 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Henrietta was only three years old and could hardly lift the heavy 
hammer, but she wanted to help her brother Ben make a table. While 
he held a spool under the center of a round tin, she drove in two nails 
as straight as could be. 

She was so delighted with the pretty table that she showed it to 
Evelyn, who was making some mud pies and cakes all sugared with 
sand. When these dainties were baked in the sun, the children put 
them on tin can plates and invited their dolls to a tea-party. 



ROUND TABLE 

Materials:— End of tin can, spool, nails. 

PLATES 

Materials:— No. 1. End of tin can. Nos. 2 and 3. Push-in covers 
of tin cans. 



ROUND TABLE, PLATES 



13 





14 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Just like Cinderella, this tin can end 
Transformed has been by a kind, kind friend. 



PICTURE FRAME 

Materials:— End of tin can, wire, raffia. 

Directions:— Make two holes near the edge of the tin and insert 
the ends of the wire loop. Turn back the ends to hold the loop in place. 
Cover the tin and the wire loop with raffia, buttonhole stitch. 



PICTURE FRAME 



15 




16 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Patiently work and work with care, 
Hammer and hammer away. 

Slowly, but surely, the leaf will appear 
Embossed on the dainty tray. 



PIN TRAY 

Materials:— Push-in cover of tin can, leaf for design. 

Directions:— Place the leaf on the tin and trace around the edge. 
Remove the leaf and draw the veins. With a hammer and sharp 
pointed nail indent the outline and veins. Fill in the background by 
making indentations close together and irregular. 



PIN TRAY 



17 




18 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Save your little pennies. 

Save your little dimes. 
Soon you'll have a dollar 

And many happy times. 



BANK 

Material:— Tin can with cover. 

Directions:— With a hammer and knife cut a slit in the cover of 
the can large enough to insert coins. 



BANK 



19 




20 r ' TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



When I was bought by thrifty Jack, 
Nothing pleased me unless it was black. 
Now, with the help of busy Irene, 
I like to keep things white and clean. 



SOAP SHAKER 

Materials:— Tin box with cover, wire. 

Directions:— With a hammer and nail make a hole through the 
center of the box and, also, through the center of the cover. Make holes 
in the cover and in the box, radiating from, these central holes. Bend 
the wire to make the handle and push the ends through the central 
holes. Turn down the ends to hold the handle securely. 



SOAP SHAKER 



21 




22 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



KALEIDOSCOPE 



Did you ever find a queer red box in your Christmas stocking, a 
box with a little round hole in one end, and, on the other end, a glass 
cover that would not come off? Katharine did not know what to do 
with the one Santa Claus brought her, until Auntie told her to hold 
it up to the light, turn it slowly around, and look through the little 
hole. What a rainbow of pretty colors she saw! What an ever chang- 
ing wonderland of flowers and fairies! 

Katharine played with her kaleidoscope so much that the rim 
around the ground glass end finally loosened. One day, she cautiously 



KALEIDOSCOPE 23 



took it off and lifted the glass. She was surprised to find some broken 
bits of colored glass and a tiny piece of lace. These were surrounded 
by a ring of tin and were resting on a piece of plain glass, under which 
were three oblong pieces of looking-glass. As Katharine carefully put 
everything back in place, she wondered whether the fairies had been 
frightened away or whether they were wearing fern seed in their shoes 
to make them invisible. 

If you try, you can make a kaleidoscope out of one of Mother's 
baking-powder cans. You do not need looking-glass. A strip of bright 
tin bent the required shape will do. The tin will reflect the light. In- 
stead of ground glass, tissue paper placed under a piece of window- 



24 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



glass may be used to give the ground glass effect. When it is all 
finished, the rainbow fairies will dance as merrily for you as they did 
in Katharine's kaleidoscope. 



KALEIDOSCOPE 

Materials:— Round tin can with cover, strip of bright tin, ring of 
tin or cardboard, two round pieces of glass, small pieces of colored 
glass, small piece of lace. 



KALEIDOSCOPE 



25 





^■^JlOll* 



26 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Dick was nimble. 

Dick was quick. 
Dick made a dust-pan 

Of a box and stick. 



DUST-PAN 

Materials:— Tin box, stick, nails. 

Directions:— After melting or cutting the solder at the two corners 
turn out one long side of the box. Fold under half of this side. 
Round off the free corners of the ends of the box. Make the handle 
and nail it in place. 



DUST-PAN 



27 





28 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



A broom that is new sweeps well, it is true, 
The straws from an old broom will, too. 

If these straws you will take, a brush you can make, 
That will sweep just as well as if new. 



BRUSH 

Materials:— Cylinder of tin can, straws from an old broom, stick, 
nails. 

Directions:— Place the ends of the straws in the cylinder. Flatten 
the cylinder and fold it in half. Insert the handle and nail it in place. 
Trim the straws. 



BRUSH 



29 





30 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



One little, two little, three little tin cans, 
Four little, five little, six little tin cans, 
Seven little, eight little, nine little tin cans, 
Ten little empty tins. 
Ten little, nine little, eight little kitchen, 
Seven little, six little, five little kitchen, 
Four little, three little, two little kitchen, 
One little kitchen tin. 



TEN LITTLE EMPTY TINS, TEN LITTLE KITCHEN TINS 



31 






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32 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



COOKY CUTTERS 

Materials:— Cylinders of tin cans. 

Directions:— Bend the cylinders the desired shapes. 

SALT-CELLAR 

Material:— Tin can with cover. 

Directions:— With a hammer and nail make holes in the cover of 
the can. Smooth the edges of the holes by pounding with a hammer. 

BISCUIT CUTTER 
Material:— Tin can cylinder with one end attached. 

STRAINER 

Materials:— Tin can cylinder with one end attached, wire. 

Directions:— Make holes in the bottom of the can, smoothing the 
edges as in the salt-cellar. Round out the bottom of the can by plac- 
ing it over a broomstick and pounding the edge. Make two holes on 
opposite sides and near the top of the can. Insert the ends of the wire 
handle. 



COOKY CUTTERS, SALT-CELLAR, BISCUIT CUTTER, STRAINER 



33 




34 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



SCOOP 

Materials:— Tin box, strip of tin. 

Directions:— Cut the box scoop shape. Turn in the edges of the 
strip of tin and bend it to form the handle. Make two incisions in 
the bottom of the box. Insert the ends of the handle. Turn back the 
ends to hold the handle securely. 



GRATER 

Materials:— Cover of tin box, wire. 

Directions:— With a hammer and nail make holes in the cover. 
Bend the wire for the handle and fasten it to the cover by turning the 
long sides of the cover down over the wire. 



BREAD OR CAKE BOX 

Materials:— Box with hinged cover, paint. 
Directions:— Paint and letter the box. 



SCOOP, GRATER, BREAD OR CAKE BOX 



35 








36 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



If dear Mother Hubbard 
Should go to the cupboard 

To get her silver to-day, 
Her surprise would be great, 
Knives and forks are so straight, 

Side by side in a useful new tray. 



KNIFE AND FORK TRAY 

Materials:— Tin box, strip of tin, board, nails. 

Directions:— Cut the board the required size and nail it to the 
box, dividing the box lengthwise into two equal parts. Make the tin 
handle and nail it in place. 



KNIFE AND FORK TRAY 



37 
















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38 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Timothy Taylor, the tinner's son, 
Tinkers and hammers and thinks it is fun. 
This wheelbarrow neat is his latest feat. 
Tim trundles it, trundles it down the street. 



WHEELBARROW 

Materials:— Tin box, sticks, end of tin can, spool, large nail, small 
nails. 

Directions:— Cut the sticks for the framework and nail them to- 
gether. Cut the spool in half and nail one half to each side of the tin 
wheel. Fasten the wheel in place, using the large nail for the axle. 
Cut off or turn under one end of the box. Nail the box to the frame- 
work. 



WHEELBARROW 



39 






40 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



"Can I really make a wagon out of that?" If the playground 
had been suddenly changed into fairy-land, Joe would not have looked 
more surprised. How could he do it, he, little Joe, who had always 
lived "up the alley" and had never had any toys? How could he 
make a wagon out of the tin box with which his baby sister was play- 
ing in the sand? 

A new light came into his eyes and his face brightened as he 
learned how to cut some sticks and nail them to the box. He used the 
ends of two tin cans for wheels. Baby did not understand what Joe 
was doing, but she was happier, too, when she found that the wagon 
was much better than the box for carrying sand. 



WAGON 

Materials:— Tin box; two tin can ends; sticks for axle, handle, and 
crosspiece; nails. 



WAGON 



41 







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42 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Can you guess what Joe did with the cover of the box? He nailed 
four sticks to it and painted it black. When the blackboard was 
finished, he took it home. His father taught him to write his name 
and draw funny pictures. 



BLACKBOARD 

Materials:— Cover of tin box, four sticks, nails, black paint. 



BLACKBOARD 



43 





44 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, 
Spring, summer, winter, and fall, 

The glorious Fourth, and birthdays,— 
This calendar holds them all. 



CALENDAR 

Materials:— Cover of tin box, calendar cards, paint. 

Directions:— Find the center of each of the two long sides of the 
cover. Cut the sides at these points and fold the cover. Paint or gild 
the tin. Slip in the calendar cards, pressing down the sides and end 
of the tin to hold the cards in place. 



CALENDAR 



45 







46 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Hippity, hoppity, black over red, 
Hoppity, hippity, red over black, 

Plain little checkers charge right on ahead; 
Only the kings can ever march back. 



CHECKER GAME 

Materials:— Two oblong tin box covers, tin for checkers, paint. 

Directions:— Place the covers together to form a square. Divide 
this square into sixty-four small squares, eight each way. Paint the 
squares red and black, alternating the colors. Cut out twenty-four tin 
checkers and paint twelve red and twelve black. 



CHECKER GAME 



47 






48 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



Although rusty the cans were and dusty and worn, 

They were hammered and painted one summer morn 

By the children, who knew they should not scorn 

Any tins,— tomato, cracker, or corn. 

As furniture quaint, some will soon adorn 

This bungalow queer that was built by Bert Horn. 



BUNGALOW 

Materials:— Tin cans, tin boxes, stick for ridge-pole. 

Directions:— In building the bungalow use the cans and boxes as 
blocks. For the roof cut open the cylinders of several cans, bend them 
the required shape, and place them across the ridge-pole. 



BUNGALOW 



49 




50 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



CHAIR 

Material:— Narrow tin can cylinder. 

Directions:— Cut the cylinder and fold the tin as shown in the 
photograph. 



BENCH 

Material:— Wide tin can cylinder. 

Directions:— Cut the cylinder and fold the tin as shown in the 
photograph. 



CHAIR, BENCH 



51 





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52 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



BED 

Materials:— Oblong tin box, two pieces of wire. 

Directions:— With a hammer and nail make a hole in each of the 
four corners of the box just large enough to insert the wire. Bend the 
wire to form the head-board and the foot-board and push the ends 
through the holes the required distance. 



TABLE 

Materials:— Cover of tin box, sticks, nails. 

Directions:— Cut four sticks of equal size for the legs of the table 
and nail them in place. 



BED, TABLE 



53 







54 TIN CAN TOYS AND HOW TO MAKE THEM 



See this panorama! 

How it turns, turns, turns! 

It is never ending 
For it turns, turns, turns. 

Back its way now wending, 
Still it turns, turns, turns. 



PANORAMA 

Materials:— Tin box, two sticks, long strip of paper, pictures, 
paste. 

Directions:— Cut an oblong hole in the bottom of the box, also, 
two round holes in each of the two long sides of the box. Cut the 
sticks for the rollers and put them in place. Paste pictures on the 
long strip of paper. Paste the ends of the paper around the rollers. 



PANORAMA 



55 






